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LULAC Denounces Trump Administration for Reckless TPS Termination

November 7, 2017

Washington, DC – On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaraguans and left Honduras with an extension that has a new expiration date of July 5, 2018. TPS was established by Congress in 1990 to apply to countries who have suffered from war, disease, natural disasters, and other catastrophes. Thousands from both Nicaragua and Honduras were given the special status in 1999 after Hurricane Mitch devastated Central America. Today, many TPS countries are dealing with safety issues and with the after effects of the conditions that led to their designation.

TPS for Nicaragua will terminate on January 5, 2019, giving the approximately 2,500 Nicaraguans, who have lived in the U.S. legally for roughly 20 years, 14 months to leave the United States. Meanwhile, approximately 57,000 immigrants from Honduras are left in limbo, fearing they may soon suffer the same fate as Nicaragua and forced to return to a country that has the highest homicide rate in the world.

Sindy Benavides, Honduran native and Interim Chief Operating Officer for LULAC stated, “We are concerned that DHS is not evaluating country conditions closely enough and acting recklessly to end TPS. Just this year, the State Department issued a travel warning for U.S. Citizens who were considering traveling to Honduras. We are outraged that this Administration is putting the lives and future of current tax-payers in limbo. People’s lives are being abruptly disrupted after living, working, and contributing to their community for close to two decades. Our message is clear: we urge Congress to protect these families! We must stop the Trump Administration’s cruel broader efforts to tighten restrictions on immigration by enacting a permanent solution that keeps families together!”

LULAC National President, Roger C. Rocha Jr., condemned the Administration's actions, “This is yet another inhumane attack on lawful, tax-paying, and hard-working families. The Trump Administration refuses to accept that this country was built on the backs of immigrants and therefore, shows no empathy and continues to separate thousands of immigrant families. All 325,000 TPS recipients are vetted, legally present and authorized immigrants in the United States. Along with devastating thousands of families, a mass deportation of TPS recipients would cost taxpayers more than $3 billion. We must do better. We urge the administration to continue to carefully review the designation for TPS countries. We are asking our LULAC members and the public to call the White House at 202-456-1111 and DHS 202-282-8495 to make your voice heard on TPS!”

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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.